Leprosy

is a loathsome disease, specially used in Scripture as a type of sin. Thus it was only when it was fully brought out (as sin when confessed), that the leper could be pronounced clean (Lev. 13:1313Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean. (Leviticus 13:13)). Like sin, it was contracted from birth, and developed with age. None but God could cure it.